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The *Suwen* (Basic Questions) states: When the Foot Shaoyin pulse of a woman is markedly active, it indicates pregnancy.

Shen Yaofeng states: The Foot Shaoyin refers to the Kidney pulse. "Active" (Dong) describes a pulsation that feels like a bean quivering and moving. Wang Taipu (Wang Bing) annotated this as the Hand Shaoyin pulse. The Hand Shaoyin pulse should be located in the depression at the end of the styloid process of the ulna on the posterior aspect of the wrist, directly opposite the little finger, not the Taiyuan (LU9) pulse; there must be a basis for this. Quan Yuanqi annotated it as the Foot Shaoyin pulse, to be palpated at the Chi (cun) position. The classic states: "The Chi position reflects the interior of the abdomen." Since the fetus is in the abdomen, it should manifest at the Chi position; this is closer to reason.

The *Suwen* states: When the Yin pulse beats strongly and is distinct from the Yang pulse, it is called having a child.

Shen Yaofeng states: Wang's commentary explains: "Yin" refers to the Chi position; "Bo" means touching the hand. If the Chi pulse beats vigorously and is distinctly different from the Cun position, it is a sign of pregnancy.

The *Suwen* states: How do we know that a pregnant woman is about to give birth? It is answered: The body shows signs of illness, but the pulse lacks pathogenic characteristics.

The *Nanjing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) states: In women, the Kidney connects to the Bao (uterus). If the pulses at the three positions (Cun, Guan, Chi) are equal in floating and sinking depth, and do not cease upon heavy pressure, it indicates pregnancy.

Shen Yaofeng states: Shuhe (Wang Shuhe) said: If a woman's pulses at the three positions are equal in floating and sinking depth, and do not cease when pressed by hand, she is pregnant. At the beginning of pregnancy, the Cun pulse is faint, with five breaths per pulse beat. After three months, the Chi pulse becomes rapid; if the pulse is slippery and rapid, and does not scatter under heavy pressure, the fetus is three months old. If the pulse does not scatter under heavy pressure but is only rapid without being slippery, it indicates five months. This is the meaning of "Yin Bo Yang Bie": it refers to the Chi pulse being slippery and rapid, while the Cun pulse is minute and small; the difference between the Chi and Cun pulses indicates pregnancy.

Wang Shuhe stated: In the fourth month of pregnancy, a rapid pulse on the left indicates a male fetus, a rapid pulse on the right indicates a female fetus, and a rapid pulse on both sides indicates twins.

He also stated: A larger-than-normal pulse at the left Chi indicates a male; a larger-than-normal pulse at the right Chi indicates a female; enlargement at both Chis indicates twins. "Larger" implies a fullness, which is the meaning of "Yin Bo." The Chi pulse is solid and large, distinctly different from the Cun pulse, merely distinguishing males (left) and females (right).

He further stated: A deep and solid pulse on the left indicates a male; a floating and large pulse on the right indicates a female.

Lou Quanshan stated: According to Danxi (Zhu Zhenheng), conception occurs in the left uterus for males and the right uterus for females. Applying this to pulse diagnosis, the principle is the same. If the fetus is on the left, Qi and Blood protect the fetus and must be abundant on the left; thus, a rapid left pulse or a large left pulse indicates a male. If the fetus is on the right, Qi and Blood protect the fetus and must be abundant on the right; thus, a rapid right pulse or a large right pulse indicates a female. This is similar to the classic text "Yin Bo Yang Bie, Wei Zhi You Zi": it means the fetus is below the midpoint of the body, and Qi and Blood protecting the fetus must be abundant below; therefore, the Chi pulse beats vigorously, distinctly different from the Cun pulse.

The *Qianjin Fang* states: Have the pregnant woman walk facing south, and call her from behind. If she turns her head to the left, it is a boy; if she turns her head to the right, it is a girl. Furthermore, a woman's abdomen resembles a winnowing basket because the female fetus faces away from the mother, with feet and knees pressing against the abdomen, making it wider at the bottom and narrower at the top. A man's abdomen resembles a pot because the male fetus faces the mother, with his back pressing against the abdomen, making its shape perfectly round.

Shen Yaofeng stated: Among the several passages in the *Neijing* regarding pregnancy, "Yin Bo Yang Bie" is particularly profound. The diagnostic method of the *Suwen* holds that the upper part reflects the upper body, and the lower part reflects the lower body. When Qi and Blood gather above, the Cun pulse becomes strong; when Qi and Blood gather below, the Chi pulse becomes strong; this is the natural trend. Testing this on sores and ulcers proves effective every time; how much more so for a fetus in the abdomen where Qi and Blood gather significantly, would it lack such manifestations? The fetus is connected to the Kidney and lies below the midpoint of the body, hence it manifests in the Chi position. However, human constitutions vary; some have naturally large pulses, others small. Even during pregnancy, some show an active pulse, others do not. Nevertheless, whether the Chi pulse is rapid or frequent, it is always distinctly different from the Cun pulse. Careful examination will reveal this truth, including the distinction between left and right for gender determination. Conception偏向 the left results in a male; Qi and Blood gather on the left, making it heavier, so calling causes a leftward glance, and the pulse manifests at the left Chi. Conception偏向 the right results in a female; Qi and Blood gather on the right, making it heavier, so calling causes a rightward glance, and the pulse manifests at the right Chi. This is a fixed principle. As for Danxi's statement that males conceive in the left uterus and females in the right uterus, this is a linguistic imprecision, meaning biased towards the left side of the uterus or the right side of the uterus! It originally did not imply two separate uteri.

Wang Mengying added notes: The discussions of various schools contain sound reasoning, yet their verification varies. I have specialized in this study since childhood, and over thirty years, I have witnessed many cases. Some show clear pregnancy pulses immediately upon conception; some appear after half a month or one month; some after two or three months. Some initially show pregnancy pulses but lose them after five or six months. Some never show pregnancy pulses throughout. Some exhibit wiry, choppy, fine, and rapid qualities after conception. Some even present with deep and hidden pulses that are difficult to find. The theories of the ancients were expressions of personal insight, but rigid methods cannot limit living beings. Those who discuss medicine only on paper without clinical experience are hardly qualified to discuss this. Only this spring, when discussing this with Magistrate Yang Suyuan, was I deeply convinced, likely due to his profound experience in this field. Recalling the autumn of Xinchou year, I diagnosed the pulse of Lady Zhou Guangyuan. Suddenly, the right Cun and Guan positions showed wiry, large, slippery, and rapid qualities, overflowing into the Yuji area. Her usual pulse had never shown this, which was quite startling. Upon asking about her daily life, she reported no discomfort, only a menstrual delay of half a month. I said: It is pregnancy, and I can predict it is a male. Later, her father-in-law, Sun Jichu, heard of this, examined the pulse, and identified it as a female pulse, saying: Pregnancy might be possible, but fear it is a female fetus. I said: The Lung corresponds to Heaven. Now, the right Cun pulse is most wiry and slippery, showing an overflowing quality. Is this not indicating that what belongs to Heaven tends upward? Mr. Sun said: Although this is a novel interpretation by a gentleman, it is very reasonable, but we still do not know what the child will look like. By the summer of Renyin year, she indeed gave birth to a boy. I briefly attach this case as a warning to those who discuss pulse diagnosis dogmatically.